Smart Solutions To Your Toughest Legal Challenges

Northern Virginia Legal Blog

It seemed a simple enough request. Add on a couple of rooms to the back of your home that will be perfect as a mother-in-law cottage or an apartment for your soon-to-be university student.

But the contractor that you hired must not have been up to the task. The slant of the roof is not steep enough to keep the rainwater from pooling in spots. You realize that this will soon cause the shingles to rot and the roof to leak. Also, the door to the outdoor patio was not properly planed and sticks when it's opened or shut. What can you do?

In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the General Assembly has enacted the following bills, which are effective as of April 22, 2019.

House Bill 340 - Closure of the United States government; civil relief for furloughed employees and contractors. Amends the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 7 of Title 44 a section numbered 44-209.

Provides a 60-day stay of an unlawful detainer for nonpayment of rent for tenants and a 30-day stay of foreclosure proceedings for homeowners of, and owners who rent to a tenant, a one-family to four-family residential dwelling unit who request a stay and provide written proof, defined in the bill, that they are (i) an employee of the United States government, (ii) an independent contractor for the United States government, or (iii) an employee of a company under contract with the United States government who was furloughed or was or is otherwise not receiving wages or payments as a result of a closure of the United States government, defined in the bill. The bill requires homeowners and owners who rent to a tenant a one-family to four-family residential dwelling unit to request such stay of foreclosure proceedings within 90 days of a closure of the United States government or 90 days following the end of such closure, whichever is later. The bill also expands the available relief to any tenant, homeowner, or owner affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic public health crisis during the period for which the Governor has declared a state of emergency (the Emergency). The bill contains an emergency clause and provides that the expanded relief provisions shall expire 90 days following the end of the Emergency.

On behalf of Faisal Moghul of Fox & Moghul posted in Real Estate Law on Monday, April 27, 2020.

Whether you are a property owner looking to improve an existing structure, someone planning to build a new home from scratch, or a contractor who provides construction or remodeling services, a dispute about the quality of work, the materials used or the design you agreed upon with the other party can lead to expensive litigation.

For construction professionals, there is also the risk of damage to your professional reputation when an issue arises that you cannot resolve outside of court. Angry customers could damage a company's reputation and drive away potential business. At the same time, those who don't receive the work they pay for should have some form of recourse to protect them from fly-by-night contractors who don't finish the job or who cut corners for profit.

To cope with this pandemic, most state governors have promulgated "stay-at-home" executive orders that close all "non-essential" businesses, including restaurants, ban gatherings of more than 10 individuals, and otherwise restrict travel barring certain enumerated SeeVirginia Governor Northam's Executive Order Number Fifty-Five (2020) Temporary Stay at Home Order Due to Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19).

By Faisal Moghul of Fox & Moghul posted in Real Estate Law on Friday, April 3, 2020.

We at Fox & Moghul have been receiving several queries on whether residential cooperatives and condominium associations are eligible for SBA loan funding under the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") included the CARES Act.

What is the PPP Program?

The PPP program is designed to provide small businesses with forgivable loans up to $349 billion to retain employees during this time of crises, which includes up to 8 weeks of payroll costs, interest on mortgage, rent and utilities. The loans would be forgiven for qualified expenses as long as the employees are retained on the company's payroll. For more details, please see U.S. Treasury Fact Sheet.

We at Fox & Moghul have been monitoring the government's continuing efforts with respect to the coronavirus emergency stimulus bill. Last night, the Senate passed a bill that will aid large and small business, employees that are laid off, hospitals and state and local governments financial assistance through this coronavirus period. While the bill will still have to be passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the President, we have reason to quell many of the most serious fears that have arisen over the past few weeks.

By Faisal Moghul of Fox & Moghul posted in Real Estate Law on Thursday, March 26, 2020.

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc with the ability of many people to timely pay their current mortgage. We at Fox & Moghul have been receiving a high-volume of calls by distressed homeowners seeking assistance on this issue. If you are one of those affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and are facing financial difficulties, including an inability to pay your mortgage, then there may be several options that are available to you under the proposed CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT OR THE CARES ACT.

We at Fox & Moghul have been getting an increased number of queries from small business owners concerning the Trump Administration's decision to inject some emergency liquidity into the economy to save distressed businesses. Given the increasingly uncertain environment these days, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has initiated the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL) to assisted distressed businesses with much needed financial assistance during this time. These funds are to be disbursed directly from the Federal SBA to eligible applicants.

If you are a business owner who is considering filing for divorce, you need to first examine how a divorce could affect the ownership of your business. You don't want to end up having to sell the business or perhaps even worse, remain in partnership with your ex.

The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.